Since the beginning of the year, at least 178 train operators and bus drivers for the MTA  NYC Transit have been caught texting while driving on the job.  This time, the dangerous behavior was caught on video.

At about 8:45 on a Friday morning, a 7 train operator was seen using his cell phone and not focusing at all on the tracks in front of him.  Once he finds out he’s being filmed, he quickly stops texting while driving.

The passenger who shot the scene was clearly upset by what he saw.

 ”I was a bit perturbed to see that the driver of the train was text messaging and his eyes were on his cell phone and not at all on the tracks,” he said. 

He added: “The main reason I am so upset about this is that I was involved in what could have been a very serious car accident at one point in my life because somebody was text messaging.”

A statement released by the MTA New York City Transit said the following:

“MTA New York City Transit has an absolute, zero-tolerance policy against texting, cell phone use or handling any type of mobile device while in a crew cab. The incident is under investigation and once identified, the train operator will be removed from service pending the disciplinary process.”

The MTA said the train operator seen texting while driving could be suspended or fired, depending on its records.

Source: New York Post, September 22, 2010; NY1, November 13, 2010

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